Tue Apr 1 15:56:44 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Rays, Wheeler agree to three-year deal

---

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays agreed to terms on a three-year, $10.5 million contract with relief pitcher Dan Wheeler on Tuesday.

The club had previously signed the reliever to a one-year deal, avoiding arbitration for this season. Now Tampa has Wheeler locked up through the 2010 season, with a club option for 2011.

The Rays picked up the 30-year-old right-hander on July 28 of last year in a deal with the Astros that sent infielder Ty Wigginton to Houston. Wheeler compiled a 5.76 earned run average in 25 games with Tampa Bay last season.

After breaking into the big leagues with the Rays in 1999, Wheeler enjoyed stints with the Mets and Astros, reaching the World Series as a key cog in the Houston bullpen in 2005. He has a 4.09 ERA in eight seasons in the majors.